Olympia City Council unanimously OKs rental housing code changes that limit move-in costs

New limits and boundaries to what landlords can charge renters at the time of move in and more are coming soon, after the Olympia City Council unanimously passed a rental housing ordinance on Tuesday night, Aug. 16.

The vote came after the council was presented information at an Aug. 9 meeting by the city’s Land Use & Environment Committee on the financial burdens renters in Olympia are facing, and how cities around Puget Sound have worked to address those challenges.

The ordinance caps move-in fees. A landlord can still require a security deposit or last month’s rent at no more than a month’s rent, but they can’t charge other non-refundable fees such as administrative fees.

Pet fees are being capped at 25% of one month’s rent.

And landlords have to give tenants more of a heads up for rent increases. For increases greater than 5%, 120 days’ notice is required, and for increases greater than 10%, 180 days’ notice is required. Rent increases can’t come in the middle of a lease, only when the lease is up for renewal.

The caps related to deposits and other move-in fees will go into effect Sept. 17, according to a news release from the City of Olympia. The requirement for 120 days’ notice for rent increases greater than 5% will start Dec. 16, and the 180 day’s notice for increases of 10% or more will start Feb. 14, 2023.

The ordinance received mixed reviews from both renters and landlords in Olympia, with some renters in favor of it but fearing it’s not enough. Most landlords who spoke during the City Council meeting on Aug. 9 were against the ordinance, fearing it will run them out of business.

The city will host a webinar about the ordinance at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8 to allow people to ask questions and get more information on how it works. Questions should be submitted to the city’s housing program specialist Christa Lenssen at clenssen@ci.olympia.wa.us. More information about the ordinance can be found online as well.